A Mexican Airline And A Russian Plane Maker Have Made Low-Cost Flying Comfortable

Low-cost air travel is hardly synonymous with comfort, but a young Mexican airline is teaming up with a Russian manufacturer to bring the two together.

At the Paris Air Show in June, low cost carrier Interjet took delivery of the first of 20 new SuperJet SSJ110s, built by Russia's Sukhoi.

The 100-seat planes are a logical fit for Interjet, which operates relatively short, regional flights. It's the first Western airline to operate them.

We stepped on board the new jet in Paris, and were rather impressed: It feels clean and comfortable — not the first things that come to mind when flying from Miami to Mexico City for under $300.

The interior is the work of Italian design firm Pininfarina, and puts a great face on a jet with a troubled history. Last year, 45 people died when one of the jets crashed in Indonesia. Investigators blamed the crash on pilot error, according to Reuters.

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While I really like the idea of using Sukhoi jets for regional travel, as the cheaper initial costs will allow for better passenger service in the long run, I'm worried about serviceability of the jets in the Western Hemisphere. Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier and Embraer: no problem. Sukhoi? Might be a problem finding spare parts and aircraft mechanics familiar with the planes in the States. I hope they've planned this out beforehand to allow flawless service between the US and Mexico should an issue or two arise with the planes. Nobody wants their jets grounded for weeks waiting for parts to arrive from Eastern Europe.